PNS|Vijayawada
In a significant development, Governor S Abdul Nazeer has given approval to the amendment of Section 33 of the AP Endowments Act, aimed at safeguarding temple and other endowment lands. Minister for Endowments, Kottu Satyanarayana, announced this emphasising the government’s commitment to protecting these valuable assets. Under the leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the government has also decided to establish state and district level committees to effectively combat encroachments on endowment lands.
The amendment is expected to soon be passed as a law following approval from the AP Legislative Assembly.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Minister Satyanarayana highlighted the significance of the changes made to Section 83 of the Debt Act, which now allows for the protection of temple properties.
In order to prevent encroachments and ensure the safety of these properties, state-level committees will be formed, headed by the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), along with district-level committees, led by district collectors.
This amendment will also address issues such as non-renewal and non-payment of leases for lands belonging to the Revenue Department, even after their terms have expired.
The Minister further explained that vacant lands and spaces will be put up for auction, with individuals who have outstanding dues being disqualified from participating.
The district-level committees, responsible for safeguarding endowment department assets, will conduct monthly reviews of temple lands and submit reports, while the state-level committee will take necessary action based on these findings.
The auction process will be carried out transparently, ensuring no room for land encroachments. It is estimated that there are approximately 4,53,173 acres of endowment lands, including agricultural and commercial areas, where only temporary structures will be permitted on valuable lands.
Regarding temple management, the Minister revealed that trustees will be appointed for temples with an income of less than Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, the management of these temples will be entrusted to hereditary priests and members of the founding family.
As per the assurance given by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, salaries for priests in such temples have been increased. Furthermore, in response to the State High Court’s deadline of six weeks for the ‘Kumbhabhishekam’ in Srisailam, the Endowments department will gather opinions and take them into consideration, ensuring the conduct of the ‘Kumbhabhishekam’ without any objections.
